Sam Worthington ordered to stay away from photographer

Australian actor Sam Worthington has been ordered to stay away from a photographer whom he is accused of punching in the face while defending his girlfriend Lara Bingle on a New York street.

The 37-year-old Hollywood star faced Manhattan Criminal Court overnight. He faced two counts of assault in the third degree, attempted assault and harassment and was issued with a restraining order.

During Worthington's brief court appearance on Wednesday, New York time, Judge Bruna DiBiase ordered the Avatar star to stay away from photographer Sheng Li for six months following their confrontation outside Cubbyhole Bar in West Village on Sunday.

Li has been charged with assault, reckless endangerment and harassment over the incident, in which he is accused of trailing Bingle for four hours on the street before kicking her in the shins. He appeared in court on Monday.

Mr Kuby wants prosecutors to drop the charges against Li and focus on Worthington.

Mr Kuby says the proof is in the paparazzi video footage of Sunday's altercation, which appears to have begun when Bingle, complaining about being followed by Li, confronts the photographer and allegedly tries to take his camera.

"I think it was outrageous that [Li] was charged at all," Kuby told the New York Daily News on Wednesday.

"Presumably, once the DA's office sees the video, they'll drop the charges.

"Again, it depends on if [New York District Attorney] Cy Vance is a fan of Avatar or not."

Mr Kuby told Kyle Sandelands and Jackie O on Kiis FM this week that Bingle's claim that she was kicked “makes no sense”, and suggested Bingle confronted his client because she wasn't getting paid.

“Maybe she wasn't getting paid to do it this time? I understand Lara Bingle is a lot like Kim Kardashian; she's famous for being famous," he said.